sew and read

Sunday, January 21, 2018

I had fabric left over from making the sunbonnet and thought I would try making a bucket hat for my grandson. I found a free children's reversible bucket hat pattern from Oliver + S. I only used iron on interfacing on one side of the brim which made the hat quite soft stucturally.

I chose to make the inside brim from the same fabric as the outside brim which was different to the instructions. It was an easy make and will fit my grandson next summer.

Inspired by making a hat for a baby I thought I would give it a go to make a hat for myself. I bought a Yousewgirl adult hats pattern from GJs. It's a great pattern as it has multiple sizes and multiple brim widths and the instructions are like having your own private sewing teacher at your elbow.

The first hat was a toile using a linen from Spotlight and cheap iron on interfacing.

The hat is firm in its structure and fits really well. The brim can be turned up too.

Feeling confident I tried making another one, this time only interfacing the brim. The hat is softer in structure and so I was able to attach the lining by machine rather than by hand. I could get away with not interfacing all parts of the hat as the outer fabric was a heavier weight cotton.

There will be more hats made as I already have requests from one daughter and my daughter-in-law.

Sunday, November 5, 2017

My sewing has taken a different direction since the arrival of my grandson. I've been making simple baby accessories such as this sun bonnet.

It's made from a free pattern available from purlsoho. The instructions are easy to follow and I found the tip of pressing the ties with the use of a bias maker, a great idea. The only addition I made to the instructions was to top stitch all around the bonnet as well as along the brim seam. The pattern comes in sizes newborn to 2 years. This one is size 3-6 months. The outside is a quilting cotton and the lining is a white lawn. Rompers are next on my to make list.

Saturday, April 15, 2017

It has been a while since I've done any sewing and I'm pleased that it was the Yuki dress by Tessuti that got me back to the sewing machine. The pattern is quite new and comes as PDF or hard copy. As I live in Melbourne I bought the hard copy from the Flinders Lane shop. It is loose fitting and when I make it again I will make it in a smaller size.

Front view

The pattern suggests that the cowl collar should be made from a lighter weight fabric for a better drape. Instead of doing that, I used the same fabric as the dress but cut the collar on the bias. I did this for the better draping quality of bias cut fabric and also because I was working with a plaid I didn't have to worry about matching stripes - killing two birds with one stone! The other change from the sewing instructions was with the centre front seam on the collar. I neatened the seam by folding under the seam allowance and stitching it down rather than neatening the edges and letting the seam allowance hang loose in the collar.

close up of front collar

Back view

Close up of back neck

I really liked the instructions for the side pockets and will use this method for in-seam pockets in future garments. The fabric is a light weight suiting from Clear It in Fitzroy. I'm not sure of its composition but it is soft to the touch.

I plan to wear it with a long sleeved black top underneath, footless tights and flat shoes for Autumn and for Winter make it warmer with a woollen crew neck jumper and boots.

Friday, February 3, 2017

It has been a long time between blog posts and that's because it's been a long time between sewing projects. Life has got busy and sewing has gone by the wayside. But over the summer holidays I set up the sewing machine and made a Stylearc Daisy Designer Tunic. There are a few changes to the original pattern. I didn't use the Centre Back or Centre Front seam but cut the back and front on the fold. I didn't add the second hem as I find that I prefer the length of this top with just the first hem. I used my favourite neck line treatment - a self-fabric bias binding- rather than the facing. This is a very comfortable top to wear and it has a lovely shape. The fabric is a light weight cotton which drapes nicely.

Sunday, July 31, 2016

I used the KimoYES drawstring bag kit to make this lovely drawstring bag. The kit came with everything that's needed to make the bag. I have to admit I did struggle with working out how to put the pieces together but it did work out in the end. It has five rectangles each topped with a triangle to make up a circular bag. The bag's finished size is 16 x 16 cms with a 42 cm circumference upper opening. My addition to the kit instructions was to make fabric covers to go over the cord knots. I found this technique in one of the first books I bought about Japanese textiles - Omiyage by Kumiko Sudo. I think it finishes the bag off really well.
I filled the bag with small bottles of Japanese Cherry Blossom body lotion and shower gel and a bath sponge from the Body Shop as a gift for my mother's birthday.
Although I enjoyed the challenge of putting this bag together, I plan to do so some research into simplifying the shape and the number of pieces that make up the bag to make the construction process easier and faster.

Friday, July 1, 2016

Following on from the success of Stylearc's Kim Swing Top in a heavier weight knit than the pattern suggested, I've gone for an even bulkier knit. The fabric is a soft and warm Italian wool knit from Rathdowne Fabrics. The adaptations I made to the pattern were: shortened the body by 6 cms, lengthened the sleeves and made the neckband 30cms wide. I used the walking foot on the machine to sew the seams before neatening them on the overlocker. I really like the collar as it rolls perfectly around the neck at just the height I wanted.

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Although Stylearc's Kim Swing Top is designed with elbow length sleeves and for a jersey knit, I thought I would try it out with a heavier knit for a winter top. I lengthened the sleeves and widened the neckband to 13cms so that it would sit higher around my neck. The fabric is a synthetic boucle knit with minimal stretch that I bought last year at the Fabric Store. I like the fit of this top across the shoulders and the way it falls across the body but as the fabric is not that stretchy it is a touch tight across my upper arms!